Water quality sensor

ABSTRACT

A water quality sensor includes a housing including a light transmissive bucket mounted in an electrical washing appliance and a light transmissive inner barrel mounted in the bucket, an actuation module mounted in the inner barrel for detecting a water quality of a washing solution in the electrical washing appliance. Thus, if the bucket is cracked during manufacturing or due to a collision, the contact actuation module can still be well protected by the inner barrel, so that the washing solution in the electrical washing machine does not directly flow into contact with the actuation module to cause an accidental short circuit of the circuit substrate of the actuation module, improving the water resistance and service life of the water quality sensor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to water quality sensor technology andmore particularly, to a water quality sensor for use in an electricalwashing appliance, which uses an inner barrel in a bucket foraccommodating an actuation module to provide enhanced waterproof effect,preventing a short circuit of the actuation module.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and thelike are designed for use with water and a washing solution or detergentto achieve cleaning. Thus, we can use these household appliances to washclothes, dishes, kitchen utensils etc., instead of hand washing. Whenwashing some objects in an electrical washing appliance, dust, fines,debris and other impurities in the objects and the applied washingsolution or detergent can cause an increase in the turbidity of theapplied water. Thus, the cleaning operation must be repeated severaltimes until the objects to be cleaned are well cleaned so that the ionconcentration in the cleaning water can be in line with test standards.Most electric washing machines and dishwashers are equipped with a waterquality sensor to detect the particle concentration (undissolveddetergent, impurities or dust or hair or clothing debris, cotton wool,etc.) in the applied water by means of emitting a light source andreceiving a reflective light from the applied water so that the controlsystem of the washing machine or dishwasher can determine the cleaningmode (for example, increasing the number of runs of the cleaning processor extending the cleaning time) according to the detected turbidity.

However, the housing of a water quality sensor can get cracked due toimproper manufacturing or a collision during transportation. If coins,pebbles or other large particles exist in the cleaning water during awashing operation of an electrical washing appliance, these solidmatters can hit the housing of the water quality sensor, causing thehousing to get cracked. At this time, cleaning water can flow throughthe cracked area into the inside of the water quality sensor, causing ashort circuit of the internal circuit board of the water quality sensorand leading to electrical washing appliance damage.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a water quality sensor thateliminates the drawbacks and problems of the aforesaid prior art waterquality sensor designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is therefore the main object of the present invention toprovide a water quality sensor, which comprises a housing comprising alight transmissive bucket mounted in an electrical washing appliance anda light transmissive inner barrel mounted in the bucket, and anactuation module mounted in the inner barrel for detecting a waterquality of a washing solution in the electrical washing appliance. Thus,if the bucket is cracked during manufacturing or due to a collision, theactuation module can still be well protected by the inner barrel, sothat the washing solution in the electrical washing machine does notdirectly flow into contact with the actuation module to cause anaccidental short circuit of the circuit substrate of the actuationmodule, improving the water resistance and service life of the waterquality sensor.

Preferably, the housing further comprises a gasket ring. The gasket ringis made up of an elastic material and attached onto the inner barrel.After installation of the inner barrel in the bucket, the gasket ring issqueezed in between an outer flange of the inner barrel and an annularstop edge of the bucket and elastically deformed to seal the gap betweenthe bucket and the inner barrel, providing a waterproof effect. Sincethe gasket ring is mounted around the outer perimeter of the innerbarrel, an enclosed gap is defined between the bucket and the innerbarrel. During transportation of the water quality sensor, the elasticprestress of the gasket ring and the design of the enclosed gap betweenthe bucket and the inner barrel reduce vibrations and avoid impactbetween the bucket and inner barrel, achieving the purpose of enhancingthe waterproof performance.

Preferably, the actuation module further comprises a light sensorconsisting of a light-emitting component and a light-receivingcomponent, and a light-shading member. The light-emitting component ofthe light sensor is inserted in a through hole of a light-shadingmember. The light-shading member comprises a barrier layer disposedbetween the light-emitting component and the light-receiving component.When the light-emitting component is activated to emit light, the lightemitted by the light-emitting component can simply go toward the outsideof the inner barrel and is prohibited from directly passing to thelight-receiving component, avoiding saturation of the light-receivingcomponent and generation of crosstalk noises before reaching of theemitted light to the washing solution in the electrical washingappliance.

Preferably, the inner barrel of the housing further comprises condensermeans. The condenser means comprises a condensing cone located on a topsurface of the light transmissive bottom wall of the inner barrel. Thelight condensing performance of the condensing cone of the condensermeans enhances the sensing consistency and accuracy of thelight-receiving component, improving the determination accuracy of thelight-receiving component and water utilization of the electricalwashing appliance.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fullyunderstood by reference to the following specification in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denotelike components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique top elevational view of a water quality sensor inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the water quality sensor in accordancewith the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 when viewed from another angle.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the water quality sensor inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic applied view of the present invention,illustrating the water quality sensor used in an electrical washingappliance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a water quality sensor in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention is shown. The water qualitysensor comprises a housing 1 and an actuation module 2.

The housing 1 comprises a bucket 11, an inner barrel 12 and a cover 13.The bucket 11 comprises a transparent panel 111, an accommodationchamber 110 defined therein above the transparent panel 111, an expandedtop open space 112 disposed in communication with a top side of theaccommodation chamber 110, an annular stop edge 1121 defined thereinbetween the expanded top open space 112 and the accommodation chamber110, and a male engagement structure 113 that comprises a plurality ofhook blocks 1131 equiangularly spaced around the periphery of a top sideof the bucket 11. The inner barrel 12 is made up of a transparentmaterial and accommodated in the accommodation chamber 10 of the bucket11, comprising a light transmissive bottom wall 121, an inner receivingchamber 120 defined therein at a top side of the light transmissivebottom wall 121, condenser means 122 located at the light transmissivebottom wall 121, the condenser means 122 comprises a condensing cone1221. The housing 1 further comprises a gasket ring 124 attached ontothe inner barrel 12 and stopped between an outer flange 123 and theannular stop edge 1121. The gasket ring 124 defines therein a ring hole1240 for the insertion of the inner barrel 12. The cover 13 is capped onthe top side of the bucket 11, comprising a center through hole 132 cutthrough opposing top and bottom surface thereof, and a female engagementstructure 131 that comprises a plurality of hook holes 1311 respectivelyforced into engagement with the hook blocks 1131 of the male engagementstructure 113 of the cover 13.

The actuation module 2 comprises a circuit substrate 21, a light sensor22, a light-shading member 23 and an electrical connector 24. Thecircuit substrate 21 is horizontally positioned in the inner receivingchamber 120 of the inner barrel 12 and disposed in parallel to the lighttransmissive bottom wall 121, a plurality of position-limiting holes 211and a plurality of retaining holes 212 cut through the circuit substrate21. The light sensor 22 comprises a light-emitting component 221 and alight-receiving component 222 respectively mounted on a bottom surfaceof the circuit substrate 21 and kept apart from the light transmissivebottom wall 121 of the inner barrel 12 at a predetermined distance.Further, the light-emitting component 221 and the light-receivingcomponent 222 are spaced from each other at a predetermined distance.Further, the light-receiving component 222 is spaced from the condensingcone 1221 of the condenser means 122 at a predetermined distance. Thelight-shading member 23 disposed below the light-emitting component 221,comprising a through hole 231 cut through opposing top and bottomsurfaces thereof for the insertion of the light-emitting component 221,a barrier layer 232 disposed between the light-emitting component 221and the light-receiving component 222, a plurality of pins 233 spacedaround the through hole 231 and plugged into respectiveposition-limiting holes 211 and a plurality of retaining arms 234respectively fastened to the retaining holes 212. The electricalconnector 24 electrically mounted in an opposing top surface of thecircuit substrate 21 and positioned in the center through hole 132 ofthe cover 13.

In this embodiment, the bucket 11 of the housing 1 comprises thetransparent panel 111 at the bottom side of the accommodation chamber110 for the passing of light. Alternatively, the bucket 11 can adopt atransparent design for the passing of light in any angle. Further, thegasket ring 124 of the inner barrel 12 is made up of an elasticmaterial, for example, silicon rubber or rubber.

Further, the light-emitting component 221 and light-receiving component222 of the light sensor 22 are mounted to the bottom surface of thecircuit substrate 21 using surface mount technology or dual inlinepackage. Further, the light-emitting component 221 of the light sensor22 can be an infrared light emitter, UV light emitter or laser lightemitter; the light-receiving component 222 can be digital type ofambient light sensor, or a light sensor of wavelength corresponding tothe wavelength of the light-emitting component 221. Further, thedistance A between the light sensor 22 of the actuation module 2 and theouter surface of the transparent panel 111 of the bucket 11 is within1.5˜15 mm. Further, the light-emitting component 221 and light-receivingcomponent 222 of the light sensor 22 are electrically connected to thecircuit substrate 21; the distance B between the light-emittingcomponent 221 and the light-receiving component 222 is within 3˜10 mm;the thickness C of the barrier layer 232 of the light-shading member 23between the light-emitting component 221 and the light-receivingcomponent 222 is within 1˜5 mm.

Further, in this embodiment, the light-shading member 23 of theactuation module 2 is disposed at the bottom side of the light-emittingcomponent 221 of the light sensor 22, and the through hole 231 of thelight-shading member 23 is configured to face toward the light-emittingcomponent 221. However, in actual application, the light-shading member23 can be configured to surround the light sensor 22, providing twothrough holes 231 corresponding to the light-emitting component 221 andthe light-receiving component 222 respectively.

In application, the water quality sensor is installed in an electricalwashing appliance 3 (such as washing machine or dishwasher) to face thetransparent panel 111 of the bucket 11 toward the inside of the washingchamber of the electrical washing appliance 3, and then electricallyconnect the electrical connector 24 of the actuation module 2 to anexternal power source for enabling the actuation module 2 to obtain thenecessary working power supply. When the electrical washing appliance 3starts up the washing process, the circuit substrate 21 of the actuationmodule 2 drives the light-emitting component 221 of the light sensor 22to emit light out of the through hole 231 of the light-shading member 23through the light transmissive bottom wall 121 of the inner barrel 12and the transparent panel 111 of the bucket 11 toward a washing solution31 in the electrical washing appliance 3. Under normal conditions, thereflection of light in the washing solution 31 is rather weak. On thecontrary, if many particles 311 (such as soil, sand or washing powder)are presented in the washing solution 31, the emitted light collideswith the particles 311 in the washing solution 31 and scatters. At thistime, a part of light in the washing solution 31 enters the inner barrel12, and the condensing cone 1221 of the condenser means 122 of the innerbarrel 12 condenses the incident light onto the light-receivingcomponent 222 of the light sensor 22 for detection, obtaining a digitalsensing value (for example, turbidity value or photometric value) fromthe washing solution 31. Thus, according to the detected digital sensingvalue, the electrical washing appliance 3 can determine whether thenumber of particles 311 in the washing solution 31 surpasses apredetermined value, and then decide if to continue the washing process.

Further, the actuation module 2 is accommodated in the inner receivingchamber 120 of the inner barrel 12; the inner barrel 12 is accommodatedin the bucket 11. Thus, if the bucket 11 is cracked during manufacturingor due to a collision, the actuation module 2 can still be wellprotected by the inner barrel 12 in the bucket 11, so that the washingsolution 31 in the electrical washing machine 3 does not directly flowinto contact with the actuation module 2 to cause an accidental shortcircuit of the circuit substrate 21 of the actuation module 2, improvingthe water resistance and service life of the water quality sensor.

Further, the gasket ring 124 that is attached onto the inner barrel 12is made up of an elastic material. After installation of the innerbarrel 12 in the accommodation chamber 110 of the bucket 11, the gasketring 124 is squeezed in between the outer flange 123 and the annularstop edge 1121 of expanded top open space 112 and elastically deformedto seal the gap between the bucket 11 and the inner barrel 12, providinga waterproof effect. Since the gasket ring 124 is mounted around theouter perimeter of the inner barrel 12, an enclosed gap is definedbetween the bucket 11 and the inner barrel 12. During transportation ofthe water quality sensor, the elastic prestress of the gasket ring 124and the design of the enclosed gap between the bucket 11 and the innerbarrel 12 reduce vibrations and avoid impact between the bucket 11 andinner barrel 12, achieving the purpose of enhancing the waterproofperformance.

Further, the light-shading member 23 is disposed at the bottom side ofthe light-emitting component 221 of the light sensor 22 and thelight-emitting component 221 is inserted into the through hole 231 ofthe light-shading member 23. Further, the barrier layer 232 of thelight-shading member 23 is disposed between the light-emitting component221 and the light-receiving component 222. When the light-emittingcomponent 221 is activated to emit light, the light emitted by thelight-emitting component 221 can simply go toward the outside of theinner barrel 12 and is prohibited from directly passing to thelight-receiving component 222, avoiding saturation of thelight-receiving component 222 and generation of crosstalk noises beforereaching of the emitted light to the washing solution 31 in theelectrical washing appliance 3. Further, the light condensingperformance of the condensing cone 1221 of the condenser means 122enhances the sensing consistency and accuracy of the light-receivingcomponent 222, improving the determination accuracy of thelight-receiving component 222 and water utilization of the electricalwashing appliance 3.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A water quality sensor, comprising: ahousing comprising a bucket, an inner barrel mounted in said bucket anda cover capped on said bucket, said bucket comprising a transparentpanel, an accommodation chamber defined therein above said transparentpanel for accommodating said inner barrel and a male engagementstructure provided at a top side thereof, said inner barrel comprising alight transmissive bottom wall facing toward said transparent panel ofsaid bucket and an inner receiving chamber defined therein above saidlight transmissive bottom wall, said cover comprising a femaleengagement structure arranged around the periphery thereof and forcedinto engagement with said male engagement structure; and an actuationmodule comprising a circuit substrate horizontally mounted in said innerreceiving chamber of said inner barrel and disposed in parallel to saidtransparent bottom wall, a light sensor mounted on a bottom surface ofsaid circuit substrate and electrically connected to said circuitsubstrate and an electrical connector electrically mounted in anopposing top surface of said circuit substrate, said light sensorcomprising a light-emitting component and a light-receiving componentspaced from each other at a predetermined distance and a light-shadingmember disposed at a bottom side of said light-emitting component, saidlight-shading member comprising a through hole for the insertion of saidlight-emitting component and a barrier layer disposed between saidlight-emitting component and said light-receiving component.
 2. Thewater quality sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bucket furthercomprises an expanded top open space in communication with a top side ofsaid accommodation chamber, and an annular stop edge defined thereinbetween said expanded top open space and said accommodation chamber. 3.The water quality sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein an inner barrelfurther comprises an outer flange extended around an inner receivingchamber, a gasket ring made up of an elastic material and mounted aroundthe periphery thereof and stopped between said outer flange of saidannular stop edge of said bucket, said gasket ring defining therein aring hole for the insertion of said inner barrel.
 4. The water qualitysensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said male engagement structure ofsaid bucket comprises a plurality of hook blocks spaced around theperiphery of said bucket; said female engagement structure of said covercomprises a plurality of hook holes respectively forced into engagementwith said hook blocks of said male engagement structure of said bucket;said cover further comprises a center through hole for the positioningof said electrical connector.
 5. The water quality sensor as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said inner barrel of said housing is made up of atransparent material.
 6. The water quality sensor as claimed in claim 1,wherein said inner barrel further comprises condenser means located on atop surface of said light transmissive bottom wall and spaced from saidlight-receiving component at a predetermined distance, said condensermeans comprises a condensing cone facing toward said light-receivingcomponent.
 7. The water quality sensor as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid circuit substrate of said actuation module comprises a plurality ofposition-limiting holes and a plurality of retaining holes cut throughopposing top and bottom surfaces thereof; said light-shading membercomprises a plurality of pins spaced around the through hole thereof andrespectively plugged into the respective said position-limiting holesand a plurality of retaining arms respectively fastened to therespective said retaining holes.
 8. The water quality sensor as claimedin claim 1, wherein said light-emitting component of said light sensoris selectively an infrared light emitter, UV light emitter or laserlight emitter; said light-receiving component of said light sensor isselectively a digital type of ambient light sensor or a light sensor ofwavelength corresponding to the wavelength of said light-emittingcomponent; said light-emitting component and said light-receivingcomponent are selectively mounted to said circuit substrate by surfacemount technology or dual inline package.
 9. The water quality sensor asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the center of saidlight-emitting component and the center of said light-receivingcomponent is within 3˜10 mm.
 10. The water quality sensor as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the distance between said light sensor of saidactuation module and the outer surface of said transparent panel of saidbucket is within 1.5˜15 mm.
 11. The water quality sensor as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the thickness of said barrier layer of saidlight-shading member between said light-emitting component and saidlight-receiving component is within 1˜5 mm.